transport of carbon dioxide

Question 1

what are the three ways that carbon dioxide may be transported in the body?

Answer 1

1. carbon dioxide is the end product of aerobic respiration and is excreted out of the body via the lungs
2. carbon dioxide dissolves directly in the blood plasma via simple diffusion across a steep concentration gradient
3. carbon dioxide binds to haemoglobin reversibly forming carbaminohaemoglobin

Question 2

what is the function of carbonic anhydrase

Answer 2

carbonic anhydrase is an enzyme in red blood cells that catalyses a reversible reaction, depending on the relative concentration of carbon dioxide and water.

Question 3

what is the equation of carbonix anhydrase with carbon dioxide and water

Answer 3

CO2 + H2O >< H2CO3 >< HCO3^- + H^+

Question 4

what happens after bicarbonate ions are formed in the blood plasma?

Answer 4

the bicarbonate ions that are carried in the blood plasma, readily reacts with H^+ ions and is converted back into H2CO3. H2CO3 > CO2 + H2O is a slow process, requiring the aid of carbonic anhydrase to speed up the conversion. CO2 molecules then diffuse from the red blood cells to blood plasma into the alveoli to be removed via exhalation